Help with student

[Abby21]

I am currently a Secondary English Education major, and am working in my school's Writing Center. Although my question pertains to the college level, I hope that someone may be able to help me. One of our clients is legally blind, and although he works hard and he works willingly, he just cannot do the necessary work. He is having trouble in many of his classes simply because his thinking is not on a higher level than that of knowledge or comprehension. In fact, his writing is on the elementary school level. My question is: what can I and the other consultants in the writing center do to help him? I really do not want to see him fail,and I do not want to give up on him. I am concerned that college level work is so difficult for him. What are some possible suggestions? If someone can give me a few suggestions or ideas, I would be extremely grateful. Thanks so much.

[Unregistered]

Give him opportunities to explore freewriting as a tool to reach into his thinking capabilities.
Also create writing prompts that will allow him to explore higher level thinking. and though in the beginning, you may have to help him finish off the thoughts, with practice, he should be able to begin coming up with his own creative responses to the higher level thinking questions.
He also may need to be given guidelines for simple (and then, eventually, more complex) five paragraph essay writing. Starting with freewriting/brainstorming techniques, followed by formal outlines etc. before completing rough drafts.... and finally polishing off his final draft essay.

[Unregistered]

Structure is the key to good writing, and one doesn't have to be a high level thinker in order to learn how to structure his writing. So teach him structure with low difficulty level prompts.

Once he knows how to structure his writing, then discuss his writing assignment orally, especially regarding structure. Then he might be able to put pen to paper.